March 20, 2025—Is the new spring season inspiring you to deep clean your living space? Spring cleaning helps rid your home of dust and clutter, and it has other health benefits too.
Vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning surfaces and objects do more than just make your home look good. They also remove breathing irritants like dust mites, pollen, pet hair/dander and mold that can trigger allergies or asthma. Regular cleaning throughout the year can also keep these under control.
Light-intensity physical activities, like cleaning, can be your first steps toward moving more and sitting less, which is good for your heart. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), standing instead of sitting for just 90 minutes a day improved health indicators in people who were overweight but otherwise healthy.
And a 170-pound adult can burn a bunch of calories in just 15 minutes:
- 41 calories: Loading the washing machine or folding laundry.
- 67 calories: Making the bed, washing the dishes or vacuuming at a good pace.
- 71 calories: Washing windows, cleaning the garage or doing other heavy-duty tasks.
- 118 calories: Moving furniture or carrying boxes.
Cleaning activities also can boost good feelings. A 2014 study, according to the AHA, showed that even a few minutes of dishwashing "with intentionality and awareness" made participants feel better and lowered negative feelings.
Ready to get started? Take your spring cleaning to the next level with these practical cleaning tips.
1. Avoid feather dusters, brooms or other things that stir up dust. Instead, use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water or a weak vinegar solution. A floor sweeper with an electrostatic cloth can pick up and hold dust for easy disposal.
2. Steer clear of cleaning products that use harsh chemicals. Baking soda, white vinegar, castile soap and washing soda all clean just as well or better than their chemical cousins. For example, baking soda and vinegar make a wonderful degreaser. Plus, all of these products are safer for your lungs, your skin and the environment.
3. Use a dust-busting vacuum. Choose a HEPA filter-equipped machine or a cyclonic-style vacuum that spins dust and dirt away from the floor.
4. Vacuum regularly. Tackling carpets, upholstery and draperies keeps dust under control and can reduce lead levels too.
5. Beat allergy-causing dust mites in the bedroom. These tiny insects feed off of dead human and pet skin cells, leaving behind their carcasses and fecal matter. Yuck! Wash bed sheets, pillowcases and blankets weekly in 130-degree water. Wash frequently used comforters and quilts or covers every two weeks—or once every two to three months if you use them less.
6. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling dust.
7. Deep clean your fridge, freezer and pantry. Take everything out; throw away out-of-date foods; wipe down shelves and drawers; and clean surfaces with warm, soapy water.
Not sure where germs like to lurk? Learn more in our digital Health Library.
Sources
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). "Cleaning Tips for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers." https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/cleaning-tips-for-allergy-and-asthma-sufferers.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. "Dust Mites in the Home." https://familydoctor.org/dust-mites-in-the-home/.
- American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI). "Double duty Spring Cleaning: Keep Healthy and Tidy." https://acaai.org/resource/double-duty-spring-cleaning-keep-healthy-and-tidy/.
- American Heart Association. "For Healthy Spring Cleaning, Think NEAT (and Dust Carefully)." https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/03/27/for-healthy-spring-cleaning-think-neat-and-dust-carefully.
- American Lung Association. "Safer Spring Cleaning Practices for Healthy Lungs and a Clean Home." https://www.lung.org/blog/safer-spring-cleaning-for-healthy-lungs.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "How Clean Is Your Refrigerator?" https://www.eatright.org/food/home-food-safety/cleaning-tips/how-clean-is-your-refrigerator.
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "4 Tips for Cleaning Your Pantry and Fridge." https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/momentum-magazine/living-well/tips-for-spring-cleaning-kitchen.
- Sleep Foundation. "How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?" https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sheets/how-often-should-you-wash-your-sheets.
- Sleep Foundation. "How to Wash a Mattress Protector." https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-mattress-protectors/how-to-wash-mattress-protector.